The Oak Bay Police Department continues to change the way it does business, after two external reviews identified several deficiencies that were plaguing internal operations and the overall organization.
At the Oak Bay Police BoardB次元官网网址檚 request, retired provincial court judge Alan Filmer launched an operational review, while Vancouver-based RCMP Insp. Alex Graham took stock of the departmentB次元官网网址檚 organizational structure. Their findings were released in February.
Many of the recommended improvements were initiated by the departmentB次元官网网址檚 interim police chief, Derek Egan, but since taking over as chief constable in July, Mark Fisher continues to make a lot of progress in implementing change.
B次元官网网址淚 would say the bulk of it is done,B次元官网网址� Fisher said. B次元官网网址淭here is still some tinkering (left to do).B次元官网网址�
He plans to add crime maps to the departmentB次元官网网址檚 website in the new year to give residents a more accurate picture of what types of crime are happening in different neighbourhoods.
In the departmentB次元官网网址檚 2012 provisional budget, the chief has also requested the hiring of a part-time front desk clerk early in the new year to assist with records management, exhibits and Block Watch duties.
GrahamB次元官网网址檚 review found there wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough administrative help at the department, leading to overwhelmed members, especially Deputy Chief Kent Thom.
B次元官网网址淚t means you do what you can in your time here and other stuff may fall off your plate,B次元官网网址� Fisher said.
The chief now tackles the budget, while the sergeants have been able to conduct personnel evaluations that were one to two years behind schedule.
B次元官网网址淚f you have people not getting feedback on how theyB次元官网网址檙e doing and then you try to confront them on it a year later, itB次元官网网址檚 not very effective,B次元官网网址� he said.
The sergeants have also each been assigned traffic, special-event planning, high-visibility policing and patrol portfolios, which Fisher decided should be rotated among them annually.
B次元官网网址淚 think whatB次元官网网址檚 happening is the sergeants are getting more opportunity to get involved in some of the planning and practical initiatives within the department, which I think is a good thing,B次元官网网址� he said.
In keeping with FilmerB次元官网网址檚 report, the department is also conducting more bike and foot patrols.
B次元官网网址淚 find the officers are much more engaged with the public if theyB次元官网网址檙e out on the bike or on foot,B次元官网网址� said Fisher, a certified police bicycle trainer who instructed two officers in September and plans to train three or four more in the spring.
Internal communications are better and overtime has been reduced, Fisher said. By the end of October, $80,660 had been spent on overtime, compared to $106,685 in 2010.
Officer recruitment has also changed. One of the advantages of hiring Const. Julie Chanin a month ago was her relatively young age B次元官网网址� she is still just 39 B次元官网网址� coupled with her moderate level of experience. B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 have everybody on the brink of retirement,B次元官网网址� Fisher said.
Given the enormous amount of change at the department over the past year, he sees things shaping up for 2012.
B次元官网网址淭he membership (has) been very open to change and (has), in fact, been instrumental in suggesting some of the changes we have implemented. Given that, I think 2012 looks promising.B次元官网网址�
emccracken@vicnews.com
